Lectio Divina for the Thirty-first Week
in Ordinary Time
We begin our prayer:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Spirit. Amen.
Almighty and merciful God,
by whose gift your faithful offer you
right and praiseworthy service,
grant, we pray,
that we may hasten without stumbling
to receive the things you have promised.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the
Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
(Collect, Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time)
Reading (Lectio)
Read the following Scripture two or three times.
Mark 12:28b-34
One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him,
“Which is the first of all the commandments?” Jesus
replied, “The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord
our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your
God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all
your mind, and with all your strength. The second is
this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
There is no other commandment greater than these.”
The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher. You are
right in saying, ‘He is One and there is no other than
he.’ And ‘to love him with all your heart, with all
your understanding, with all your strength, and to
love your neighbor as yourself’ is worth more than
all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” And when Jesus
saw that he answered with understanding, he said to
him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”
And no one dared to ask him any more questions.
Meditation (Meditatio)
After the reading, take some time to reflect in
silence on one or more of the following questions:
• What word or words in this passage caught
your attention?
• What in this passage comforted you?
• What in this passage challenged you?
If practicing lectio divina as a family or in a group,
after the reflection time, invite the participants to
share their responses.
Prayer (Oratio)
Read the Scripture passage one more time. Bring to
the Lord the praise, petition, or thanksgiving that
the Word inspires in you.
Contemplation (Contemplatio)
Read the Scripture again, followed by this
reflection:
What conversion of mind, heart, and life is the Lord
asking of me?
You shall love the Lord your God with all your
heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and
with all your strength. How can I make God the top
priority in my life? How can I show God my love
for him this week?
You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Do I love
myself as a precious child of God? Do I share God’s
love with those I meet?
You are not far from the kingdom of God. When
have I felt close to the kingdom of God? When have
I felt far from the kingdom of God?
After a period of silent reflection and/or discussion,
all recite the Lord’s Prayer and the following:
Closing Prayer:
I love you, O LORD, my strength,
O LORD, my rock, my fortress,
my deliverer.
My God, my rock of refuge,
my shield, the horn of my salvation,
my stronghold!
Praised be the LORD, I exclaim,
and I am safe from my enemies.
The LORD lives! And blessed be my rock!
Extolled be God my savior.
You who gave great victories to your king
and showed kindness to your anointed.
(From Psalm 18)
Living the Word This Week
How can I make my life a gift for others in charity?
Take an honest look at your schedule to find ways
that you can give more time to God.
Excerpts from the New American Bible, revised edition ©
2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine,
Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright
owner. Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the
Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical
edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of
Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with
permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be
reproduced by any means without permission in writing from
the copyright owner.
Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal ©
2010, International Commission on English in the Liturgy
Corporation. All rights reserved.